Lowe
slightly injured ...Boyd to face committee
Dec 29
It was reported that recalled player Onandi Lowe was
slightly injured in an auto accident recently. Lowe's
injuries were minor and not expected to affect the
player. Lowe was recalled to the National team after
a four year suspension he was serving was lifted by
the JFF. Another recent recall Walter Boyd will have
to face the disciplinary committee for incidents in
the recently contested National Premier League game
between Arnett Gardens and Waterhouse.
It has been
confirmed that players involved in the Adopt-A-Player
Program will receive between J$75,000 and J$100,000
monthly. Individual payments were not available at
this timeas assesment continues. The Adopt-A-Player
Program allows corporations to sponsor member of the
National Squad.
Reggae Boyz
has busy schedule in preparation for World Cup
Dec 19
It has been announced that the Reggae Boyz will
travel to Brazil in early January for three weeks for
a series of games in that country. They will then
return to Jamaica's National Stadium for a game
against Sweden on January 29. Jamaica will then face
Brazil in the Gold Cup tournament at the Orange Bowl
in Miami Florida on February 3rd. The Reggae Boyz
will then travel to the Los Angeles Coliseum for
engagements with El Salvador and Guatemala in the
same tournament on February7th and 8th. The group
will then embark on an European tour for possible
games against Wales, Austria, Denmark and Poland. The
team will finally set up camp in Charmont in early
June for their first world cup encounter against
Croatia in Lens on June 14.
Marcus Gayle
(Wimbledon) and Frank
Sinclair (Chelsea), new addition to The Reggae Boyz
Dec 12
With mixed reaction from the Jamaican people, Rene
Simones named English based players , Marcus Gayle
(Wimbledon) and Frank Sinclair (Chelsea) to the
Jamaican squad. Rene Simones stated that no one is
assured a spot and that playing in England does not
mean a player will make the team. He also stated that
the door is not closed for anyone, and for other
players who wish to try out for the team, not to lose
hope.
Boyd and
Lowe back on squad
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Dec 11
It was announced today at an official press
conference, that Onandi Lowe and Walter Boyd are back
in the national squad for duties at the world cup
next year. Both players had been suspended for
different reasons and an apology was required from
them. Many Jamaicans have long called for the return
of these two talented players to the squad.
Comments
from the Coaches in Group H
JAMAICA
Coach: René Simoes "We are
glad to be here as newcomers to the World Cup. We are
a pretty strong side, even if we do lack experience
compared with Argentina or Croatia. But I'm very
happy with this group. The group containing Nigeria,
Bulgaria, Paraguay and Spain is certainly the
toughest. But in my opinion, we can beat any side,
even Japan. Japanese football is making great
strides. Their game is very fast thanks to the
contribution made by the Brazilians in the
championship."
Coach: Carl Brown said "We have
a very good chance here. We will surprise these
teams. They haven't spent any time looking at the
Jamaican team, but we have been looking at them.
"The Argentina game is the one Jamaica will
spend most time on and think about the things that
they want to do,"
ARGENTINA
Coach: Daniel Passarella said
"I'm delighted. It's a really good draw for my
squad. Our aim is to go very far, but I don't want us
to be labeled favorites. I've experience of the
Croatian players and I fear them. The schedule is
nicely spaced out. Batitusta is an excellent player,
but I'll decide later whether to select him. Japan
has made great progress. We beat them 5-1 two years
ago. But now they've got a good team. On paper, we've
got the best side in the group, but we'll have to
prove it on the pitch. We know nothing at all about
Jamaica except that they have a Brazilian coach and
play football well".
JAPAN
Coach: Takeshi Okada said "We
are glad to have avoided an African team. They are
difficult to play against. Lots of teams are here for
the first time, like Jamaica. That's great. I'm
delighted to be playing Argentina which is one of the
best teams in the world. I think that the games
during the competition will continue to be played in
a friendly spirit. We will do our best."
CROATIA
Coach: Miroslav Blazevic said
"I'm delighted with the draw. We needed a break
and we got one. Thanks to the draw, our ambitions are
a little more assertive than before. If you exclude
France, Argentina and Brazil, I think I can venture
that we are no less favorites than the other teams.
WORLD CUP GROUPS
MARSEILLE,
France, Dec 4
Dates
and Location for Jamaica's First Round Games:
Jamaica v Croatia, Lens, June 14
Argentina v Jamaica, Paris-Parc des Princes, June 21
Japan v Jamaica, Lyon, June 26
| Group
A |
Group
B: |
Group
C |
Group
D |
| Brazil
|
Italy
|
France
|
Spain
|
| Scotland
|
Chile
|
South
Africa |
Nigeria
|
| Morocco
|
Cameroon
|
Saudi
Arabia |
Paraguay
|
| Norway
|
Austria
|
Denmark
|
Bulgaria
|
| Group
E |
Group
F |
Group
G |
Group
H |
| Netherlands
|
Germany
|
Romania
|
Argentina
|
| Belgium
|
United
States |
Colombia
|
Japan |
| South
Korea |
Yugoslavia |
England
|
Jamaica
|
| Mexico |
Iran |
Tunisia
|
Croatia
|
Rest
of the World Team defeat Europe 5-2
MARSEILLE, France, Dec 4
The gala FIFA match between Europe (2) and the Rest
of the World (5)saw seven goals and lots of action as
Ronaldo showed that he is definitely the top baller
in the world today scoring 2 and assisting in the
other three. The Reggae Boyz Deon Burton, with a lot
of similarities to Ronaldo, showed that he is a
dangerous player and was unfortunate not to have hit
the net also.
Scorers: Europe - Marius Lacatus (Romania) 1,
Zinedine Zidane (France) 61....Rest of the World -
Antony De Avila (Colombia) 17, Ronaldo (Brazil) 22,
43 Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) 31, 37
Reggae Boyz
played the most qualifying matches
KINGSTON,
Jamaica, Dec 3
In Recently published world cup qualifying facts,
Jamaica' Reggae Boyz was listed as the team that
played the most matches: Jamaica 20 played, Won 11,
Drew 6 Lost 3 and scored a total of 24 goals and gave
up 15.
Other facts and figures on the World Cup qualifying
competition includes-Competing nations: 172,Total
Goals: 1,922 , Average number of goals per match:
2.99, Highest score: Iran 17 Maldive Islands, Goals
by Confederation-UEFA Goals: 667, South America:
Goals: 184, CONCACAF Goals: 295, Africa: Goals: 91,
Asia: Goals: 452, Oceania: Goals: 85, Yellow cards:
Total: 2,142 (avg. per match 3.3), Red cards: Total:
162 (avg. per match 0.3) .
Delegation
off to Europe
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Dec 1
JFF President Capt. Horace Burrell along with
Technical Director Rene Simoes and the National
Team's GM Horace Reid will travel to England, France,
Italy and Germany in preparation for World Cup '98.
In England the delegation will be looking at and
meeting with team with Jamaican Players for them to
evaluate. They will also stop in France for the World
Cup Draw on December 4 . They will then continue on
to Italy and Germany in order to set up camp in
preparation for the World Cup. The team is presently
taking a break before they start a 3 week tour of
Brazil as part of their preparation. In Jamaica, the
airways are a blaze about the prospects of English
players joining the team.
Coach to
take look at oversea players
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov 27
Technical director Rene Simones and Burrell are going
to England to watch to the match between Derby County
and Chelsea. They are interested in the players that
have faxed in their resume to the JFF lately. many
Jamaicans at home are not in agreement with more
foreign based players joining the team as they think
the local lads have worked very hard and played their
hearts out and should not at this point fell
treatened by thoughts of new oversea players.The JFF
says it wants the best Jamaican players available at
home and abroad to play.
Jamaica/Trinidad
friendly ends in draw
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov 24
The Reggae boyz played to a nil all draw in their
friendly with Trinidad and Tobago the reigning
Caribbean champions on Sunday. Weather conditions was
poor and and the field sloppy as rain fell during the
lackluster game. Both teams were not at full strength
as many foreign players were away on duty with their
regular clubs.
Reggae Boyz
to play in Gold Cup
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov 23
At a recent CONCACAF meeting, the officials ruled
that Jamaica be invited to next years Gold Cup
tournament to be held in the USA. This is good news
for Jamaican soccer fans as the Reggae Boyz will play
against the World Champions Brazil in their first
game February 3rd. Jamaicans has always had a warm
spot for Brazilian soccer and this will be a great
moment for the Reggae Boyz.
Burton to
play for World IX team
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov 22
Jamaica and Derby County's striker Deon Burton was
called up to play for the World IX team which plays
against an Europe XI team on Dec. 4, 1997, in
Marseille, France. It's part of the celebration
planned on the day of the World Cup draw. The teams
will consist of one player from each of the 32
finalists.
More foreign
based players possible
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov 22
In a recent interview Capt. Burrell said that the JFF
wants the best players available at home and abroad
to play for Jamaica and that they are looking at
other foreign based players including some top
players in the English League. The team presently has
four English based players, Robbie Earl, Fitzroy
Simpson and Paul Hall. This is a very good move as
all the other countries do this. Other positive moves
by the JFF includes the "Adopt-a-player"
plan that involves local industries sponsoring
players.
Jamaica
moves one spot in World Ranking
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov 21
Jamaica moved up one spot to 39 in the recent
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Trinidad and Tobago has
fallen on place and are currently ranked 58th . Other
regional ranked teams are Mexico (11th), USA (29th)
and Costa Rica (52nd).
England
backs out on promise to Reggae Boyz
KINGSTON,
Jamaica, Nov 20
Jamaica's national football learned today that
England had backed down on their promise to play them
in a friendly. Jamaica's Capt. Horace Burrell,
President of the Jamaica Football Federation said
that England had promised the team a match at Wembly
were they to qualify as part of the preparation
process. Jamaica is scheduled to play Brazil in
February and Norway in May. England is now reported
to be playing against Argentina instead and its
widely speculated that they do not want to run the
risk of defeat against the Reggae Boyz at this time.
Jamaica and
Trinidad and Tobago to play Friendly
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov
19
World Cup qualifiers
Jamaica will play Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly
game in Port of Spain on Sunday. T&T is the other
soccer powerhouse in the Caribbean and this will be a
good test for T&T in preparing for the Gold Cup
in February next year. Oversea stars Dwight Yorke and
Russell Latapy will not play due to club commitments
but Clint Marcelle of Barnsley and Anthony Rougier
should be available for the game along with two U.S
based players, Stern John (New Orleans) and Ansil
Elcock (Columbus) and Canadian based Terry St. Louis
(Toronto). In previous meetings between the two
teams, Jamaica beat T&T 6-1 and T&T won 4-2
on penalty kicks in the Shell/Umbro cup. It is
unlikely that Jamaica's English-born players Robbie
Earle and Deon Burton will be available for the game.
Jamaica's
Reggae Boyz advance to World Cup
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov 16
Jamaica made soccer
history on Sunday by becoming the first
English-speaking Caribbean nation ever to qualify for
the World Cup finals. Jamaica played to a 0-0 tie
with Mexico."This is undoubtedly the greatest
day in Jamaica's sporting history " said Prime
Minister P.J. Patterson and the government declared
Monday a national holiday in celebration of the
achievement.
Rivals El Salvador
who were fighting for the final spot loss 4-2 to the
United States in Boston. Mexico, the United States
and Jamaica are the three CONCACAF qualifiers. A
capacity crowd of over 33,000 in yellow and green
shirts began chanting "France, France"
before the final whistle thus starting the
celebration. Jamaica's two television stations
devoted most of their programming to the match, and
showed the team's qualifying games on the road to
France.
Jamaica, who have
not lost at home in three years and has not conceded
a goal at home in the World Cup qualifying campaign,
played a possession game and at times seemed to be
playing for the draw. Jamaica created some good
scoring opportunities but wasted them and at most
times were the dominant team . Mexico, who has lost
to Jamaica twice here, seemed satisfied with the
results and happy not to pick up any injuries or red
cards.
Island-wide the
cars, trucks and buses were sporting Jamaican flags
and some supporters have even bolted full-length
flags to the hoods of their cars. Many songs have hit
the airwaves saluting the new heros. Prime Minister
Patterson have promised a "fitting national
celebration" would be held in honor of the team.
The only other
Caribbean nations that have had ever qualified for
the World Cup is Cuba in 1934 and Haiti in 1974.
